What a feeling! And how to change it.

A friend of mine asked me today about a dream that she had where she was almost run over by a train, on the same day that she expressed that she felt that very way. This is one example where I believe using dream analysis can be bypassed since the dream emanated from a strong feeling that she had recently. The question then becomes how to move past an emotionally difficult situation in a way that serves you both in the short and long terms.

What do I mean by that? Too often, an emotion feels too painful to experience and we simply bury it. Our methods can range from anesthetizing the feeling with an addiction (such as food, alcohol or even a large dose of TV) or becoming so busy in our lives that we don't have time to think about it. While this technique certainly reduces the immediate expression of pain, it will almost certainly cause long-term issues that will manifest either in our life circumstances or even in the body itself. One example that I've seen is a man who had severe upper back pain. When I placed my hands there to tune into the energy signature of his back, I saw that it was actually extreme emotional pain. He then told me that he dealt with repeated heartbreaks by pushing the emotion from his heart to an area behind him. Over the years, it had accumulated to such an extent that he was no longer able to ignore it. He then had the task to release that energy (in his case in the form of tears), and to change how he managed his emotions.

Easier said than done, but here is the way that I've learned to do it and perhaps it can help you too. There are two completely different methods that I use and I offer you both so you can choose what feels more natural or effective.

The first method is strictly energetic, and very easy to use. Picture yourself standing (without actually doing so!) above the ground by a foot or two. Give the command (benevolently, not with force) to the difficult emotion to fall to the floor from wherever it may be representing itself in your body. Picture it falling to the ground as if you had just brushed off some dust. Then picture a huge broom sweeping away all of the emotional debris laying on the floor in one large movement. I call this "The Big Sweep" for short. If you do this with conscious intent, you can actually feel the emotion being released, either in part or completely. You can use this technique for any feeling, from a strong flareup to a minor annoyance.

The second method calls for a little more involvement. There are some schools of thought that encourage you to allow yourself to feel the emotion completely, without judgment, so that it's acknowledged and then can be released. This can be very effective for some, where others need a more intellectual approach (this is where my left brain comes in and wants to be included!) Here are the steps that I take:

1. Acknowledge the feeling. Denying that you're feeling this will get you nowhere. In this case, you're not necessarily called to feel the full intensity, just to recognize that you are feeling this, even if this is a feeling you don't want associated with you. For example, if you are feeling angry, just say so to yourself and let go of any judgment that you have connected with anger. It just is.
2. Next, detach from the situation a little so you can have a better perspective. Focus on uncovering the truth rather than labeling yourself in any way.
3. What triggered this emotion? Your first reaction will probably be to state the external circumstance or person who caused you to feel this way. While this is entirely natural, a more productive approach will be to look at what this means about you. For example, if someone just ended a relationship with you, then your feelings could include: grief at losing what you had, fear that you won't find another relationship this wondeful, fear that you're not lovable enough, anger at the changes you'll have to make (changing habits and traditions, losing some friends, gaining responsibilities, etc.) and uncertainty as to what life with look like from now on.
4. You now have more clarity at exactly what's going on inside. You can then choose how to respond to each of these different aspects. In many cases, simply recognizing what's at the root of your reaction will dissipate the associated emotion.

The other very powerful way to approach a difficult situation is to remind yourself that everything happens for a reason. Often, the reason is not clear when the situation arises, but knowing that there is one can help you deal with the present moment. Because inquiring minds want to know, especially in my case, here is a short and incomplete list of "reasons" that I've experienced:

• There is a pattern in my life and I haven't noticed it yet so it keeps returning. I probably haven't realized this yet since it comes disguised in different clothing every time.
• I absolutely need to learn a particular lesson at this time so something just happened to highlight it in a way that I can't ignore.
• There is an emotion buried inside that needs to be brought to the surface in order for me to deal with it and this situation just "assisted" me in doing just that.
• There is an agreement that my soul has with another and there is no earthly reason I can know this unless I "tune in" at a different level.
• There is baggage from a previous lifetime that I need to heal now. (I know these last two may challenge your beliefs, and if so, please simply ignore them.)

A final comment: no matter what you're feeling, a hug will normally help. May you be blessed with at least one today!
Helene

What dreams may come: how to really interpret them

Dreams can be categorized into several different types, and at this time I'll only mention two of them. Your dream may be a compendium of what you have lived, seen, heard or thought recently, often that same day, reorganized in a very creative fashion. The second kind is of more interest - a dream that delivers a message through obscure symbolism. It can be very powerful, timely and a perfect opportunity to come to an important realization

There are many different ways of interpreting dreams and books abound about the significance of particular symbols. However, though I agree that there are similarities in concepts (such as a dream about being chased relating to a fear that you have yet to face), I find that symbols mean different things to different people, and even different things to the same person depending on the context.

For example, seeing a train in a dream could mean:

• travel;
• a long path ahead with smooth ups and downs;
• an indication that if you start going in a particular direction, others will follow;
• a slow beginning because you are setting something large into motion, but once started, the momentum will keep it running more easily;
• it's time to start training for a future task;
• or, if you just saw the movie Great Train Robbery, it could mean that you've been spending too much time trying to protect yourself.

Here is a novel way to interpret your dreams that has helped me tremendously. It's called "The Four E's" and it's based on looking at the dream from different perspectives.

Picture the face of a clock, and you're sitting at 6 o'clock.

1. Start with the 9 o'clock position (or west side of the circle); the first "E" is "Ego". Ask the question "what does this dream represent from an ego perspective", or what does this dream say about me specifically? For example, a dream where you are trying to rush to an appointment but can't find your shoes could mean that you don't feel ready yet.
2. Next, go to the 12 o'clock position (north); the second "E" is "Eagle". Look at the dream from a bird's eye view and see if you can discern a new perspective. For example, I once had a dream that I was driving a car, trying to go north but there didn't seem to be way to get there and I was stuck in a labyrinth. By looking at the dream from a higher perspective, I could see that the way out was by going straight south and then I would find a road to go north, meaning that the quickest way to get to where I wanted to go wasn't in a straight line in this instance, and certainly wasn't obvious. This was a call to me to think "outside of the box".
3. Then, go to the 3 o'clock position (east); the third "E" is "Enemy". What would your enemy say that this dream means? For example, if you have a dream where you're on stage, your "enemy" might say something to the effect of "do you really think people will want to hear what you have to say?" This is a really important step since it raises subconscious fears to the surface, where you can better deal with them. Incidentally, whoever shows up as your enemy is not necessarily a negative person. This may be someone who is close to you who is currently serving the purpose of challenging your beliefs about yourself.
4. Finally, go to the 6 o'clock position where you are sitting (south); the fourth "E" is "Everyone". My personal take on what to do here is to go back through the dream, and "become" each character one at a time. For example, I once had a dream where I was being chased by a polar bear, and by the end of the dream, I was trying to hold the bear back on the other side of a door. I uncovered many interesting messages from this dream, but couldn't fully understand it until I "became" the bear. As the bear, I suddenly knew that I was chasing the woman, not to harm her, but to shake her so she could see something important (which in this case was, "dont' worry about what other people think").
5. If you aren't satisfied that you've really understood the dream, then keep going around the circle until something clicks.

A note about nightmares: it has been my experience that when you have a nightmare it's to assist you in remembering the dream, especially as dreams usually vanish like a cloud of steam as soon as you awake. When I woke up from the polar bear dream above, I was still experiencing the feelings of fear from the dream. But once I understood its message, any negative association to the dream vanished, and the message was deeply imprinted.

A recurring dream could mean that there's still a message in it that you haven't recognized.

You should know that dreams can carry many layers of meanings. Each meaning can refer to a specific time, event or emotion that you encounter, so finding a different meaning doesn't negate the accuracy of the first interpretation.

If you find it difficult to remember dreams and you wish to do so, then I suggest that you set an intention before you go to sleep to remember one dream, and have a pen and paper by your bedside to write it all down as soon as you wake up from the dream.

Finally, having the ability to channel messages doesn't exonerate you from getting pointed dreams. I believe this is to prevent you from having any opportunity to filter the message!

I hope this sheds some light on your nighttime visions. And that you enjoy the delicious irony that dreams are meant to help "awaken" you!

Helene

All by myself: are you really alone on this path?

When you begin a walk along this type of path, you may not even know you've begun something that will lead you to unknown waters. That is to say, you may not realize that what you're experiencing in your life right now, be it a physical ailment, a job loss, or a different kind of turbulence, is actually a call to you to look at your life anew and find a different way of associating cause and effect.

You can trust that anything monumental in your life can be used successfully as a growth tool. What that means is that we are trained from an early age what life is supposed to look like, be like, and how we are to behave in it in order to be successful. As it turns out, there are many models that can work, as evidenced by the vast number of cultures and customs already in existence. But what is right for you now may not be reflected by what you've always believed is right.

Other people have experiences that are quite out of the ordinary for them, such as perceiving something (through any of the senses, or even just a "knowing") that they can't relate to anything they consider normal. And anything outside of the norm is often looked at as a cause for concern. To put it mildly. Or they yearn for something "more" that they can't quite describe.

What does this mean? From my own life, having a career in the computer industry, mainly in sales and project management, meant that my lifestyle was very much determined by the demands of my left brain. I knew how to organize and plan, how to connect with people on that basis, and how to go about my business day. But when all that changed, when I left the high tech industry to "become" a healer full time, then there was a considerable loss in how other people could relate to me. I no longer had the company and title to fall back on, the business routine no longer gave a framework to my day, and the travel, perks and automatic social environment supplied by the job were no longer there to support me. So I needed to redefine what living meant in the face of all these changes. In many cases, friends no longer felt that they could relate to me, former colleagues stayed away, and even my family was perplexed. People who cared about me wanted to ensure my sanity had not left me and concerns were raised about my ongoing financial security. In short, it felt as if I had moved into a completely different world and everyone I knew was still in the old one. This is not to say that the old one is wrong; it just didn't fit me anymore.

Naturally, this type of experiment may make you feel even more that you shouldn't speak about anything out of the ordinary to those around you, thereby making you feel quite isolated. So when a major life event happens around you, the automatic response is to try to rebuild your life along the very same model that it was before. And if for some reason you choose differently, you can expect those around you to be confused. So you keep quiet about your new thoughts, about the questions that are forming in your mind, and about some new experiences that you may have had that don't fall into the category of the tried and true.

I'm here to tell you that you may be feeling isolated while sitting next to another person who feels exactly the same way. The only way I was able to find people to talk to about my new and exciting developments was by venturing out, feeling the terrain, and having the courage to speak about it just a little to a few people. Only then, when the subject has been broached, can the other person feel safe in opening up a floodgate of repressed feelings and thoughts themselves, and the conversation begins.

How this all changed for me on a large scale was getting out of my regular environment. I found a few conferences about spirituality and self-improvement and found myself surrounded by a different mindset. Suddenly I didn't feel so strange and out of place. The more I was able to speak to people and share experiences, the more I learned and the more comfortable I became about who I was. It progressed to such an extent, that now I feel confident that I can be who and what I am in any circle. This doesn't mean that I push and challenge people to accept me in all my metaphysical extensions, but if they ask what I do, I present it to them in a very gentle, non-threatening way. Because I'm so comfortable with it, then somehow they are too to whatever degree they are able.

The bottom line is that if you feel isolated by new thoughts, concepts or experiences, then you would do yourself a great service by seeking others who can understand. Your growth will most certainly proceed more smoothly and joyfully. If you're unsure how to proceed, please feel free to post a comment or to email me.

Just know that on this path, there are many hugs to be had!
Helene

How and why to use this page

Welcome to a place where your healing and growth may be made easier by learning about experiences on this path, both from my own life and that of others whom I've helped.

My purpose is to shed some light on what you may be experiencing now and where you can go from there. Every single human being has a path unique to them, and though it may have many similarities to a path that others have followed, you should probably expect to find yourself in what feels like unchartered territory at some point.

I will not judge the path you choose, though I will admit to promoting those that are based on love and respect. The stories that I will relate to you may or may not show up in your life, but perhaps there is something parallel happening with you that will suddenly make sense.

What do I mean by "path"? It's actually the road back to your true essence. When you know yourself as you truly are, rather than as the image and beliefs that you've constructed over the years, when you can really feel the purity of the love that is available to you from your center core, then you can view your life and those around you in a different light. Then you can feel more joy and start letting go of the imprints of your past, which may be found in physical ailments or repeating emotional patterns. Then you can find meaning in your life in a way you never saw before. Then you can own who you are, and choose for yourself.

The information you find on this site relates to what I'm currently learning as well as stories from earlier on my path. I also have several favorite stories from sessions that I've had with others. I hope this site helps you as much as my own learning has helped me.

May you feel the love in your heart that is already there.
Helene